Flexible cable guide

ABSTRACT

A flexible cable guide and enclosure is disclosed for guiding one or more optic fiber cables between an outside of the enclosure and a moveable tray inside the enclosure on which devices terminating the one or more are mounted. A first end of the cable guide is secured to an outside of the enclosure and a second end is secured to the tray for movement therewith. The flexible cable guide ensures that the optic fiber cables transition smoothly from the outside of the enclosure to the devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 62/722,556 filed on Aug. 24, 2018 andwhich is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flexible cable guide. In particular,the present invention relates to a system and cable guide that guidefibre optic cables from outside an enclosure to a device mounted on amoveable tray within the enclosure.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Enclosures which house fiber optic equipment such as cross-connects orthe like terminate a large number of fiber optic cables. Additionally,in many installations given limited space, enclosures are only easilyaccessible via the front of the enclosure for servicing or modifyingconnections or the like which requires that fiber optic cables bothenter and exit the enclosure via the front. In order to provide ease ofaccess to modules held within the enclosures, especially to the rear andwithout the necessity of removing the modules, slideable trays areprovided which can be pulled forward to allow access to the modules. Onedrawback of such designs is that fiber optic cables entering the frontof the enclosure become snagged on the trays which can lead to thembeing damaged or broken, or hindering the movement of the tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to address the above and other drawbacks there is provided afiber optic cross connect system for interconnecting a first externalequipment with a second external equipment. The system comprises anenclosure comprising a top, a bottom, a first side and a second sidedefining a tray receiving space therebetween, a slideable tray arrangedhorizontally and moveable between a stored position wherein the tray iswithin the tray receiving space and an extended position wherein thetray is substantially in front of the tray receiving space, an elongatefiber optic terminating equipment arranged on the tray for movementtherewith and comprising a first interface arranged along a rearwardedge and a second interface arranged along a forward edge, a firstplurality of fiber optic cables each comprising a first end terminatedat the first interface and a second end for termination at the firstexternal equipment, a second plurality of fiber optic cables eachcomprising a first end terminated at the second interface and a secondend for termination at the second external equipment, a flexible cableguide for guiding the first plurality of fiber optic cables andcomprising a first end attached to an outside of the first side of theenclosure and defining an entrance, a second end attached to the trayadjacent the first side and an intermediate section between the firstend and the second end comprising a plurality of spaced cable retainersinterconnected by a elongate flexible side band, each of the cableretainers defining a cable passage wherein the plurality of cablepassages together define a cable passageway arranged along the sideband, the intermediate section comprising a curve delimited by the sideband, the first end and the second end defining an access to the cablepassageway in a direction the cable tray is extendable.

There is also provided a flexible cable guide for guiding a plurality offiber optic cables from outside of an enclosure, the enclosurecomprising a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side defining atray receiving space therebetween, to inside the enclosure fortermination at a network equipment on a tray, the tray slideablehorizontally between a stored position wherein the tray is within thetray receiving space and an extended position wherein the tray issubstantially in front of the tray receiving space. The guide comprisesa first end for attachment to an outside of the first side of theenclosure and defining an entrance, a second end for attachment to thetray adjacent the first side, and an intermediate section between thefirst end and the second end comprising a plurality of spaced cableretainers interconnected by an elongate flexible side band, each of thecable retainers defining a cable passage wherein the plurality of cablepassages together define a cable passageway arranged along the sideband. When the first end is attached to the enclosure and the second endis attached to the tray, the intermediate section maintains a constantcurve during sliding of the tray, the side band delimits an outside ofthe constant curve and both the first end and the second end define anaccess to the cable passage in a direction of extending the cable tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a raised right front perspective view of a fiber opticcross connect system comprising a flexible cable guide in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A provides a raised right front perspective view of a tray offiber optic cross connect system comprising a flexible cable guide in astored position and in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2B provides a raised right front perspective view of a tray offiber optic cross connect system comprising a flexible cable guide in anextended position and in accordance with an illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3A provides a raised right front perspective view of a flexiblecable guide in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3B provides a raised left perspective view of an end of a flexiblecable guide and mounting plates in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 provides a partial raised left front perspective sectional viewof a fiber optic cross connect system comprising a flexible cable guidein accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 provides a raised right front perspective view of a flexiblecable guide in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a flexible cable guide, generally referred tousing the reference numeral 10, will be described. The flexible cableguide 10 is illustratively foreseen for use in a cross connect system12. The cross connect system 12 illustratively comprises an enclosure 14dimensioned for mounting on a 19″ rack 16 or the like. The enclosure 14comprises a top, bottom, first side and second side and defines a trayreceiving space which houses one or more trays 18 which are arrangedhorizontally and slideably mounted and moveable between a storedposition where the tray 18 is within the enclosure 14 and an extendedposition where the tray 18 is positioned in front of the enclosure 14and accessible, for example by a technician or the like.

Still referring to FIG. 1, elongate fiber optic terminating equipment 20such as fiber optic cassettes are illustratively arranged on the tray 18for movement therewith. The terminating equipment 20 comprises a firstinterface terminating one or more of a first plurality of fiber opticcables 22 and a second interface for terminating one or more of a secondplurality of fiber optic cables 24 and illustratively such that thefirst plurality of fiber optic cables 22 and the second plurality offiber optic cables 24 are interconnected. Such cassettes 20 areremovably mounted in trays 18 for example through the provision of tabs26 which engage with tab receiving mounts 28 in the tray 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, as discussed above each of the trays18 is moveable on runners 30, which run in complementary channels 32attached to an inner surface of the enclosure 14, between a storedposition (FIG. 2A) and an extended position (FIG. 2B). A lever 34 isprovided to release a latch (not shown) which holds the tray 18 in thestored position. The first plurality of fiber optic cables 22 are heldin a cable way 36 which provides side access to the rear 38 of the tray18. The flexible cable guide 10 is placed in the cable way 36 andremovably secured at a first end 40 to an outside of the enclosure 14and at a second end 42 to the tray 18 for movement therewith.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, in a first embodiment the flexible cable guide10 is illustratively manufactured in one piece from a pliable materialsuch as a flexible plastic or rubber or the like. The flexible cableguide 10 comprises an elongate ribbon-like side band 44 whichillustratively comprises a series of transverse notches 46 spacedregularly along a length thereof, thereby improving flexibility. Aplurality of cable retainers 48 are spaced along the side band 44. Theretainers 48 each comprise a recloseable cover 50 allowing one or morefiber optic cables 22 to be secured using the cable guide 10, orremoved. A divider 52 is provided separating each retainer 48 into two(2) cable passages 54 when closed. The first end 40 and the second end42 each comprise a plurality of flexible fingers 56 which serve toretain the cables 22 within the cable guide 10 while allowing them to beremoved as necessary. Together the retainers 48 and their respectivecable passages 54 define a cable passageway arranged generally along theside band 44.

Referring back to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2B in addition to FIG. 3A, the firstend 40 of the cable guide 10 is secured to the outside of the enclosure14 at a point proximate to where the first plurality of fiber opticcables 22 will enter the enclosure 14. The second end 42 is secured tothe tray 18 for movement therewith. An intermediate portion of the cableguide 10 is flexible and curved and such that the side band 44 delimitsan outside of the curve. A person of ordinary skill in the art will nowunderstand that as the tray 18 is moved between the stored position andthe extended position the location of the curve within the intermediatesection of the side band 44 will change in order to accommodate themovement of the tray 18. In this manner movement of the first pluralityof fiber optic cables 22 is limited and such that they are not subjectto excess strain and the like. Additionally, the first plurality offiber optic cables 22 of one tray 18 are prevented from fouling orotherwise impeding the movement of the other trays 18.

Still referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2B in addition to FIG. 3A, duringinstallation of the first plurality of fiber cables 22 the tray 18 isfirst placed in the extended position and the covers 50 opened. One ormore fiber optic cables 22 are placed within selected one of thepassages 54 and interconnected with respective ones of the cassettes 20.The covers 50 may then be closed the tray 18 placed in stored positionof FIG. 2A. If fiber optic cables 22 must be removed or additionalcables 22 added, the tray 18 is simply placed again in the extendedposition and the covers 50 opened.

Referring now to FIG. 3B in addition to FIG. 3A, in order to removablysecure the first end 40 to an outside of the enclosure 14 a plurality ofhorizontally extending mounting plates 52 are provided. The mountingplates 52 are arranged in vertical alignment and equally spaced suchthat the first ends 40 of each of the flexible cable guides 10 may beslid horizontally between successive ones of the mounting plates 52. Theends 40 are retained in place through the combination of pairs ofopposed raised guides 54 and pairs of flexible bosses 56 which are heldwithin channels 58 moulded or otherwise formed within the mounting plate52. In this manner the first end 40 can be released and re-secured suchthat additional optical fibers (not shown) can be mounted within thecable guide 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, in an alternative embodiment the covers50 which provide access to the cable retainers 48 are removeable andfabricated from a relatively rigid material such as plastic or the like.Each cover 50 is secured to its respective cable retainers 48 at aproximate end via a hinge assembly 60 comprising a pair of clips 62which receive a shaft 64 and about which the cover 50 can rotate. Eachcover 50 can be opened thereby allowing one or more fiber optic cables22 to be retained by or removed from the cable guide 10. Each cover 50may be subsequently be closed and retained in place by a tab 66 formedon an inside of a distal end 68 of each cover 50 and which engages arespective one of a plurality of tab receiving cut outs 70 moulded inthe side band 44. A bevelled surface 72 is provided adjacent each cutout 70 to ease closing. When closed, a middle portion of each cover 50is stabilised by a boss 74 which engages a slot 76 in the cover 50.Covers 50 of different trays 18 can be colour coded to improve cablemanagement and the like.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in an alternative embodiment the cableguide 10 further comprises a pull tab 78 at the first end 40 to aid inremoving the first end 40 from between the mounting plates 52. In orderto ease reinsertion of the first end 40 between the mounting plates 52an upper guide 80 and a lower guide 82 are provided which engage anouter edge 88 of respectively an upper mounting plate 52 and a lowermounting plate 52. The first end 40 is held between the mounting plates52 by a flexible clip 90 which engages a cut out 92 in an upper one ofthe mounting plates 52.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in an alternative embodiment aplurality of flexible fingers 94 are provided at both ends of the cableguide 10 to removeable retain the one or more fiber optic cables 22there between. Additionally, the second end 42 comprises a flange 96comprising a conical aperture 98 for receiving a screw 100 or the likefor securing the second 42 to the tray 18. The screw 100 works togetherwith a ridge 102 which engages an aperture (not shown) in the tray 18 inorder to retain the second end 42 securely for movement with the tray18.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way ofspecific embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing fromthe spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in theappended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A fiber optic cross connect system forinterconnecting a first external equipment with a second externalequipment, the system comprising: an enclosure comprising a top, abottom, a first side and a second side defining a tray receiving spacetherebetween; a slideable tray arranged horizontally and moveablebetween a stored position wherein the tray is within the tray receivingspace and an extended position wherein the tray is substantially infront of the tray receiving space; an elongate fiber optic terminatingequipment arranged on said tray for movement therewith and comprising afirst interface arranged along a rearward edge and a second interfacearranged along a forward edge; a first plurality of fiber optic cableseach comprising a first end terminated at said first interface and asecond end for termination at the first external equipment; a secondplurality of fiber optic cables each comprising a first end terminatedat said second interface and a second end for termination at the secondexternal equipment; a flexible cable guide for guiding said firstplurality of fiber optic cables and comprising a first end attached toan outside of said first side of said enclosure and defining anentrance, a second end attached to the tray adjacent said first side andan intermediate section between said first end and said second endcomprising a plurality of spaced cable retainers interconnected by aelongate flexible side band, each of said cable retainers defining acable passage wherein said plurality of cable passages together define acable passageway arranged along said side band, said intermediatesection comprising a curve delimited by said side band, said first endand said second end defining an access to said cable passageway in adirection said cable tray is extendable; wherein said intermediatesection maintains a constant curve during sliding of said tray betweensaid stored position and said extended position and further wherein saidflexible side band delimits an outside of said constant curve.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said flexible side band is substantiallyflat.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said retainers comprisesa cover providing access to a respective one of said passages.
 4. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein said substantially flat side band comprises aplurality of transverse notches spaced regularly along a length thereof.5. The system of claim 1, wherein said constant curve is substantially180 degrees.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first end isremoveable attached to said outside of said first side of saidenclosure.
 7. The system of claim 4, wherein a proximate end of each ofsaid cover is hingedly mounted to a respective of said cable retainers.8. The system of claim 7, wherein said cover is removably mounted tosaid respective cable retainer.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein saidhinged end comprises a pair of open ended clips and said respectivecable retainer comprises a shaft and further wherein said open endedclips receive said shaft for rotation thereabout.
 10. The system ofclaim 7, wherein a distal end of each of said cover comprises a tabwhich on closing engages a respective one of a plurality of cut-outs insaid side band.
 11. A flexible cable guide for guiding a plurality offiber optic cables from outside of an enclosure, the enclosurecomprising a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side defining atray receiving space therebetween, to inside the enclosure fortermination at a network equipment on a tray, the tray slideablehorizontally between a stored position wherein the tray is within thetray receiving space and an extended position wherein the tray issubstantially in front of the tray receiving space, the guidecomprising: a first end for attachment to an outside of the first sideof the enclosure and defining an entrance; a second end for attachmentto the tray adjacent the first side; and an intermediate section betweensaid first end and said second end comprising a plurality of spacedcable retainers interconnected by an elongate flexible side band, eachof said cable retainers defining a cable passage wherein said pluralityof cable passages together define a cable passageway arranged along saidside band; wherein when said first end is attached to said enclosure andsaid second end is attached to said tray, said intermediate sectionmaintains a constant curve during sliding of the tray, said side banddelimits an outside of said constant curve and both said first end andsaid second end define an access to said cable passage in a direction ofextending the cable tray.
 12. The flexible cable guide of claim 11,wherein said flexible side band is substantially flat.
 13. The flexiblecable guide of claim 11, wherein each of said retainers comprises acover providing access to a respective one of said passages.
 14. Theflexible cable guide of claim 12, wherein said substantially flat sideband comprises a plurality of transverse notches spaced regularly alonga length thereof.
 15. The flexible cable guide of claim 11, wherein saidconstant curve is substantially 180 degrees.
 16. The flexible cableguide of claim 11, wherein said first end is removeable attached to saidoutside of said first side of said enclosure.
 17. The flexible cableguide of claim 13, wherein a proximate end of each of said cover ishingedly mounted to a respective of said cable retainers.
 18. Theflexible cable guide of claim 17, wherein said cover is removablymounted to said respective cable retainer.
 19. The flexible cable guideof claim 18, wherein said hinged end comprises a pair of open endedclips and said respective cable retainer comprises a shaft and furtherwherein said open ended clips receive said shaft for rotationthereabout.
 20. The flexible cable guide of claim 13, wherein a distalend of each of said cover comprises a tab which on closing engages arespective one of a plurality of cut-outs in said side band.